PAY ATTENTION WHEN MAKING CHOICES. 2nd Chronicles 1 In our day among nations, businesses, families, and assemblies of God's people, if lessons are not learned, if we do not pay attention to warnings, if we forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and if we ignore what we know is right, we soon become a lost testimony to the grace of God. Many religious groups began because an earnest desire for the truth of God moved people to turn to the word of God for guidance, and they acted on that guidance. Within a few generations, a historical drift sets in, and those truths that were once so precious, for which the first generation of Christians paid a high price, have now been compromised. Truth and error have become so blended that compromise is accepted, and the truth itself is ignored and soon lost. When truth has been bought at a price, "Buy the truth and sell it not," the Lord's people are strong in faith. They are highly motivated to pass truth on to those around them. Those who take biblical spiritual matters for granted find it quite easy to walk away from the truth and "sell" it to be acceptable to the world system around us.
Solomon began with a noble intention. He went to the brazen altar in Gibeon to connect with God, bringing along the leaders among God's people. A single person with a sincere desire for God can significantly impact many. In his enthusiasm, Solomon openly expressed to the people his relationship with the Lord. Both they and God were aware of his commitment. Offering one thousand burnt offerings would have made a lasting impression on those witnessing the smoke and scent rise to God. It was clear to the people that their new king recognized God's authority and was devoted to Him, and in the days to come, they would benefit from the unprecedented offer God made to Solomon.
The principle remains today. "God resists the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." When we have a choice to make, there are consequences to accept—both good and bad. By asking for wisdom and knowledge so he could rule the people of God well, he received that, along with riches, wealth, and honor. That was indeed a wonderful choice with great significance for both him and those he was to rule. However, one wise choice and its lasting benefits do not guarantee that all our choices are right, nor does it mean that God is obligated to us in any way. The choice to make a solemn offering at Gibeon had a profound effect on himself, those with him who helped lead the people, and the people themselves. The entire nation became aware of the fact that the great God of the universe was the God of Israel. His choice for wisdom positively impacted Solomon and provided a temporal benefit to the nation's wealth. Then, for some inexplicable reason, Solomon made a choice that was against the word of God.
By acquiring 12,000 horses, primarily from Egypt, which had been forbidden, he took matters into his own hands. The chariots and horses he brought represented a business venture that, in some ways, would give him leverage over the surrounding nations, which he could use to his advantage. They would have to purchase their armaments from him because he controlled the trade routes of the Middle East. His business affinity with the Egyptians led him to marry an Egyptian princess, which, in turn, set him on a downward path away from obedience to the word of the Lord.
The world has an effect on believers that may not be immediately obvious or significant. What may begin as "only business" can quickly evolve into friendships that affect politics, social interactions, personal relationships, and ultimately spirituality. All the perceived benefits are meaningless when their costs lead us away from God and away from making decisions according to His will and word.
The accumulation of wealth also has dangerous consequences in our time, just as it did during the reign of Solomon. When riches increase, we are not to "set our hearts upon them." Wealth does not bring happiness. Covetousness is never satisfied. When the people of God become "rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," reality fades into a form of idolatry in which it becomes more important to make more money and accumulate more things than it is to be with God's people in worship, remembrance, prayer, and testimony. One professed believer said, "I haven't got time for 'church' when I can make time and a half in overtime pay."
Poor rich Solomon! He ignored what was written in the scriptures and began to drift away from the mind and will of God. We need to pay earnest attention to what has been taught to us, as well as to what has happened to those who came before us and failed in faith. We must listen, learn, and act on what is right in every choice we make—not just on one or two highlights in life.
The altar sat, where it had been for over four hundred years, resting in the high place of Gibeon, where others had come before. Something, however, was missing: the ark had been taken away. The new king approached the altar, seeking God to usher in a new day. Sure enough, he met God after a thousand offerings were burned. That night, God appeared to him, and from God, he learned great wisdom. His humility was impressive, and he had the right intentions in his heart. When he left that brazen altar, he truly had made a good start.
It is possible today to meet God in some very unusual places. There is the gathering center where we come together, and He blesses us. But like the ark, though in a different place, God meets us where we are. He reads the thoughts and intents of our hearts from afar. Even so, we remember that God willingly draws near to us when we come together. There is a special gathering center to which we come as one to seek the mind and will of God regarding the things that affect His people. In that place, we are known as the children of God; there, we are all treated equally.
The tabernacle was old; it had withstood the years, yet the altar remained intact. Some might have thought God couldn’t be present there because the ark had never been returned to the tabernacle. However, the altar of sacrifice, where God received the burnt offerings, still had a fire burning. And when the offering to God was presented, God understood the motives behind it. We have returned year after year, even though we are few. Others look on with eyes askance, “They don’t know when they are through!” But the Lord is present when we come together, and true worship arises from us. The company's size, loud music, and enthusiasm do not determine worship. People focus on outward appearances, but God still examines the heart. He can meet us outside the camp while the ark remains in the big city. I would never dare limit God to just the places I visit. There is ample evidence that God meets with His people when they acknowledge His Lordship.